Even with a busy lifestyle as a celebrity chef, Bobby Flay manages to stay healthy and fit. Starting January 14, Bobby will share his secrets to eating healthy and exercising right in a seven-part Web series, Bobby Flay Fit. But until then, Healthy Eats caught up with Bobby to learn more about his healthy lifestyle and his fitness routine. He also shared some great tips for sticking with a plan and dealing with everyday temptations.

Do you prefer working out in the morning or evening?

BF: Mornings for sure. Right out of bed. I’m a morning person – I’m one of those people that get up really early in the morning.

Your workout of choice: running, lifting weights or biking?

BF: Running for sure. I’ve been running competitively since high school. It’s the most comfortable for me.During the winter, do you run inside or outside?

BF: I like running outside in the cold, unless it’s brutal out, because I warm up very quickly. I like running along the West Side Highway. It’s nice – people running in the opposite direction will go, “Hey Bobby!” People are so nice. It’s nice to run among other people who have the same goals you do.

How often do you work out/how often would you like to work out?

BF: I’m disciplined. If my call time is 6 a.m., I’m up at 4:45 a.m. and in the gym or running in the streets. That’s because I need to work out to set myself up for a busy day. I’m just better at what I do for the rest of the day after I work out. When you decide to skip just to skip, you’re making a bad choice. I put my gym shorts on before I’m actually awake. You can lie in bed and come up with 400 excuses . . . then all of a sudden you have to go to work. Think about it this way: for all that time spent lying in bed wondering what you should do, you could have been halfway done in the gym already.

Do you work out alone or with a buddy?

BF: I usually run by myself, but I like working out with friends. Michael Symon and I work out very differently. He’s a big bulky guy and was a wrestler in high school. I can’t lift 25 percent of the weight he lifts, but he can’t run like I can. So we’re a good team. We learn from each other. I do a lot of cardio, but I would like to tone my upper body more, which is where Michael comes in. He can help me with that.

Is working out ever a family affair?

BF: Well, my daughter is also a runner – Sophie likes to run. I run with her occasionally. She works out with her team at school, but in the summer I like to run with her. I have a hard time keeping up with her! I think of working out as a much more individual thing. I don’t want to inflict anything on anyone else that I need to get done. I see people running and talking together – I just can’t do it. It takes energy to do that. I’ve run three marathons and people tell me they want to run with me. Two things: first, I don’t want to exert the energy to talk with them, and second, I don’t want to hold anyone back or be held back. It’s easier to just be focused. I’ve run the New York City marathon three times, but I think I’ll retire from those now!

What’s your go-to pre/post workout snack?

BF: A very healthy fruit and nut bar.

What do you eat during the day?

BF: I eat Greek yogurt with berries and honey for breakfast, a salad or half a sandwich for lunch and for dinner, that depends – it could be anything from a 10-course restaurant dinner to a home-cooked meal of roast chicken. I tend to be stricter with my breakfast and lunch than with dinner.

What’s the one food you couldn’t live without?

BF: Ice cream.

What are three tips that people can use now to start building healthy habits?

BF:

Get rid of all the snacks that aren’t good for you that are in the house. Just throw them out now. Don’t buy them. If you have potato chips, ice cream or high-calorie dips, you’ll eat them. And then you’ll just have to work harder. I don’t keep that stuff in the house.

Make dinner early; don’t wait until 9 or 10 p.m. to eat dinner. Get dinner out of the way. Obviously that might not happen if you’re having a dinner party, but for everyday dinners, eat early.

Portion control: when you’re home, you’re dishing out your portions. Eat three-quarters of what you would normally eat and I promise that you’ll be fine.